PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to launch a special programme to boost production of dairy, meat and poultry sectors.

Chief Minister Mahmood Khan directed the authorities of agriculture department to devise a comprehensive and workable plan for the purpose within a month, said a statement issued here on Wednesday.

He also directed the authorities concerned to devise an action plan for the execution of the programme and said that provincial government would provide all required resources to them on priority basis.

The chief minister issued the directives while chairing a meeting of the agriculture and livestock department to review progress so far made on implementation of Agriculture Transformation Plan.

Additional Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Senior Member Board of Revenue Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Amjad Ali Khan, the relevant administrative secretaries and other senior officials attended the meeting.

The chief minister said that government would provide financial assistance to the people associated with livestock sector to increase the quantity of dairy products for commercial purposes. He also directed the relevant authorities to come up with proposals for establishing diseases-free zones in feasible districts of the province to protect cattle from foot-and-mouth disease.

He ordered them to design a strategy for effective marketing of trout fish, dairy products, poultry and meat in other provinces and abroad. He said that there was huge potential for agriculture in southern districts and for horticulture and livestock in northern districts of the province.

The chief minister said that the potential needed to be explored to boost economy of the province and create job opportunities for people. He added that government was not only committed to promoting those sectors but also taking result-oriented steps for the purpose.

He directed the agriculture and industry departments to work together and devise a strategy for setting up plants at feasible places for the packaging, grading and value addition of fruits and other products.

He said that the development of livestock was one of the top priorities of government as it was directly related to common man. He added that economy of the province could be strengthened on sustainable grounds by promoting livestock sector.

The meeting was briefed about the progress so far made on Agriculture Transformation Plan. The chief minister expressed satisfaction on the progress made on the plan and directed the authorities concerned to further improve the pace of execution and ensure the progress on the activities of the plan as per timelines.

He said that implementation of the plan was the need of the day.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2021